Fan



June 22, 1937. 5 R T 2,084,744

FAN

Filed April 15, 1936 INVENTOR ,jfierrill ,5: Rat/15L? ATTORNEY Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE Application April 15,

15 Claims.

This invention relates to oscillating air circu lating devices in general, and particularly to instrumentalities commonly termed oscillating blowers or fans.

The prime object of the present invention is to provide an oscillating air circulating device having theminimum number of moving parts, and which will operate without the employment of gears, cranks, eccentrics or similar oscillationproducing elements.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple oscillating fan, the operation of which entirely depends upon the co-action of a pendulum-like fan suspension with the reaction of the fan suspended therefrom.

The foregoing and a great number of other objects and advantages of this invention will become more fully apparent from the ensuing description in conjunction with'the accompanying drawing, which latter is held in a more or less diagrammatical form, and which drawing, therefore, is by no means intended to limit my invention to the actual constructions shown.

In the drawing.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my device, partially in section, showing one of the simplest forms of my construction.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, in which the fan suspension means are at their normal, stationary position,

Fig. 3 is a top view of my. device as shown in Fig. l, in which is indicated in full lines the normal position of the fan and of the fan suspension, and, in broken lines, the two extreme outer positions thereof,

Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of another form of my device adapted to be either supported on a base or suspended from a wall,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partially in section,

of a modified form of my device,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 1-1 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a partial, enlarged sectional detail view of the horizontal arm of the fan support of the type used in the construction of Fig. 5,

Fig. 9 is another modification of my oscillating fan,

Fig. 10 diagrammatically illustrates the means for alternately changing the position of the fan as employed in the construction shown in Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 illustrates a modified form of the lower 55 end portion of the fan suspension means.

1936, Serial No. 74,485

Referring now specifically to the Figures 1, 2, and 3, numeral I0 denotes a base upon which is mounted a standard H in the form of an oblong frame, through which spaced-out middle area passes inclined portion [2 of the fan suspension means. The latter is supported at its lowermost pointed end i3 in a suitable conical bearing, while the upper end of the inclined portion of the fan suspension isheld by a loop l4, suspended from a hook l5, which latter is attached to the upper bar of standard ll. Inclined portion I2 of the suspension means terminates in a horizontal arm I5 provided with a hook H, from which depends an electric fan [8 provided with the usual set of blades and a guard for the latter. The fan or blower is indicated fragmentally throughout the drawing. Between hook I! and the fan there are provided suitable connecting means, which comprise a plurality of rings l9 and a yoke 20, in which latter the fan is suspended so as to facilitate its tilting about its transverse horizontal center axis. Rings l9 facilitate the turning of the fan about its vertical centeraxis. Just above the yoke 20 there is provided a pair of substantially V-shaped resilient contact members, whiskers or feelers 2| and 2|, which are adapted to alternately contact with the inclined portion l2 of the fan suspension.

This latter has an inherent tendency, due to its pendulum-like construction, to normally assume the full-line position shown in Figure 3, irrespective of the fact whether the fan blades are in motion or not. The moment, however, the fan suspension is caused to swing from its normal, full-line position to any other position, within the limits of its travel, while the fan is operating, the reaction of the operating fan will gradually force the suspension to either one or the other extreme outward position, indicated in broken lines in Figure 3. The moment one of these extreme positions is reached, one of the whiskers or contact members 2| and 2| will touch inclined portion l2 of, the fan suspension, and will cause the fan to swing about its vertical axis to a position at which the reaction of the fan will cause a reversal of the swinging movement of the pendulum-like suspension, which will now pass the normal full-line position until it reaches the extreme opposite position. At that position the fan is again turned, through the cooperation of the whiskers with the fan suspension, so that its reaction reverses the swinging movement of the fan suspension.

These steps can be best followed by referring to Figure 3. Assuming that the fan suspension is brought from its full-line position to that shown in dotted-lines at I, the reaction of the fan, combined with the tendency of the pendulum to revert to its normal position, will bring the fan suspension past the full-line position into the position shown at II of Figure 3. At this position whiskers 2| will contact with inclined portion I 2 of the fan suspension and cause the fan to change its position in the direction indicated by arrow A, until the fan assumes a position corresponding to, but just opposite to that indicated at I. Now the pendulum suspension is forced again in opposite direction, passing the normal full-line position and finally reaching the extreme outer position shown at I. At this position the whiskers will cause the turning of the fan, so that its reaction, combined with the tendency of the pendulum to revert to its normal position, will cause the movement of the entire arrangement back to position II. This operation is-automatically repeated until either the current is cut off, or the fan is brought manually to the full-line position. The operation is started by simply pushing the fan structure out of its normal, full-line position while the fan is operating.

Incidentally, this alternate repositioning of the fan will be accompanied by the swinging of the fan about its transverse horizontal center axis passing through the suspension means in yoke 29. In other words, the fan will not only change its position in a horizontal plane, but also swing in a vertical plane, so that the air movement,

thus produced, will be a double one.

This is due to the fact that the fan, in order not to turn over or tilt when at a standstill, is suspended in a yoke 20, so that the center point of gravity of the motor and the fan lies below the horizontal axis of suspension. "As the fan is caused to swing in an arc, the centrifugal force urges its heavier, lower half to tilt outwards. The centrifugal force of the fans rotating blades tends to maintain the fan in a vertical plane. When the fan reaches one end of its swing, the centrifugal force, which first urged the lower half of the fan outwards, now ceases; in consequence whereof the fan tends to assume its normal, vertical position; however, the momentum of the inswinging lower half of the fan carries it beyond the true vertical plane, causing a tilting of the'fan in opposite direction. Now, as the fans travel is reversed, the lower fan half is again swung outwards until the other end of the swing is reached. Thus, the fan is swung about its horizontal axis of suspension relative to its vertical plane, while the fan swings about its vertical axis of suspension, as has been stated previously.

Furthermore, the rotation of the fan at the end of its swing is caused by the fan being suspended in. an unbalanced state; the side of greater weight (or lever arm) will swing away from its former path, or tend to continue in a straight line or turn about the center of weight as its axis, in accordance with Newtons second law.

Referring now to Figure 4, in this construction is shown a base 22 in dotted lines, in which may be'secured at 23 standard 24 equipped at 25 and 26 with means for attaching the standard to a wall or similar upright structure. Extending from the standard, there will be seen at its lower end a semi-loop 21, while at the top of the'standard a similar but longer loop 28 is provided. Within the rounded portions, Of th s loops is movably lodged the inclined leg 29 of the fan suspension. The lower end of this leg is provided with a ball 38, intended to prevent disengagement of leg 29 from lower loop 2?. Just above this loop there is provided a collar 3|, to which is attached a spring wire or resilient strip 32, fixedly secured at 33 to standard 24.

Inclined leg 29 terminates in a horizontal arm 34 and is provided with a hook 35, from which depends fan 36 suspended in a yoke 37, which is connected by means of rings 38 to hook 35. Just above the yoke there is again provided a pair of whiskers 39 and 49, adapted to alternately contact with leg 29 of the fan suspension, and, by so doing, to change the position of fan 36. The operation of this construction is very similar to that explained in connection with Figures 1, 2 and 3.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated a. base M, from which extends a hollow, channel-shaped upright 32. .Within the upright there is provided a lower V-shaped bearing t3 and a similar upper bearing the latter being clearly illustrated in enlarged form in Figure '7.

Operatively mounted within hollow upright it, and engaging bearings 43 and M, is a pendulum fan suspension member, having a leg portion 45, equipped with lower and upper bearing means 36 and fill, engaging, respectively, bearings 33 and M... a hollow enlargement 43, from which extends horizontally channel-shaped arm 4-9, terminating in a hollow end-construction 5d. The fan suspension member is floatingly mounted from upright 42 by means of a resilient suspension element 5!, attached at 52 to the leg 65 and'secured at 53 to the upper corner of upright 42. Passing through hollow enlargement 48 is a bolt 54, which not only holds element 5! suspended from upright 42, but at the same time prevents the disengagement of the fan suspension member from upright 52.

Depending from end-enlargement or head 59 of arm 49 is fan 55, shown fragmentally in this fi ure, held in a yoke 55. ring-shaped extension 57, reposing upon a bar 53, held between the sides of head 58. Extending from ring 57 and solidly connected therewith and with yoke 56, is an enlargement 59, from which extends into the channel of arm 49 a contactmember 68. This contact member is intended to alternately touch the side walls of channel arm 49, when the fan is to change its position. In order to decrease frictional resistance in the suspension means for fan 55, I preferably interpose between enlargement 59 and head 50 a resilient element 6!, secured by means of screw 62 to the upper end 53 of head 50. The cooperation of contact member 66 with the side walls of arm 49 can be best observed from Figure 8, in which is illustrated in diagrammatical form enlargement 59, from which extends contact member 58, and which latter is shown in full line, indicating its normal position, while the dotted-line positions indicate the extreme or contacting positions of member 60 with the side walls of arm 49.

Referring to Figures 5 and 7, I have provided at 34, movement limiting means for leg 15 of the fan suspension member. These limiting means are illustrated in the form of set screws, which may be adjusted to any desired position. By that adjustment the movement of the fan suspension means may be not only limited, but may be increased in one direction and decreased in the other. It will be observed from Figure 5 that the At the upper end of leg 45 there is provided The latter possesses a bearing means for the fan suspension are at an incline to the vertical, and consequently to the horizontal, as clearly indicated by a dot-and-dash. line, whichpasses through the knife-edges of the bearings.

In Figure 9 there is shown a frame 65, resembling achannel, and provided at its bottom 66 with an aperture 61, through which may be passed an attaching screw for mounting member to a base 68, indicated in broken lines. Member 65 is primarily intended for attachment to a wall by means of screws or other means, for which suitable apertures 69 are provided. The flanges of channel member 65 are provided near their upper end with enlargement or bosses 18, through which passes a bar H, which is suitably notched for receiving a knife-edge 12, forming the upper bearing means of leg 13 of the fan suspension member. The latter is provided at its bottom end with another knife-edge bearing 14, engaging a corresponding bearing 15 provided in channel member 65. The fan suspension member is floatingly mounted within the channel member by means of a spring element 16, attached, respectively, at 11 and T8 to the fan suspension and channel member 65. The substantially horizontal arm I9 of the fan suspension member is provided with a boss 80, to which is secured by means of screw 8| a spring element 82, extending towards the free end of arm 19. At the end of this arm there is provided a U-shaped hook 83, supporting, by means of ring 84, yoke 85, pivotally holding at 86 a fan 81. An enlargement 88, between yoke 85 and ring 84, serves as support for contact means 89 and 89, adapted to alternately engage spring member 82. The contact means in this construction are clearly illustrated in diagrammatical form in Figure l0, in which their normal position and that of spring member 82 is shown in full lines, whereas one of the extreme outward positions of the contact means is indi cated in broken lines. The operation of this device, and the one shown in Figure 5, is identical with that explained in connection with Figure 3. It will be observed that also in Figure 9 the knifeedge bearings of the fan. suspension are at an incline to the horizontal, indicated by a dot-anddash line.

In Figure 11 there is shown a detailed View, partially in section, of the lower bearing means between the base or standard and the fan suspension, similar in construction to that of Figure 5. Here again a V-shaped bearing 98 is provided in the standard 9! for the knife-edge 92 of leg 93 of the fan support, which latter is suspended by resilient member 94 from the upper end of the standard (not shown). In line with the bearing edge and arranged below knife-edge 92, there is seen a boss 95, equipped with a bearing point 9E. The latter is adapted, when spring element 94 should break, to slip into bearing 91, in the form of an inverted cone. Such construction may be provided in connection with any of my devices where a flexible element serves as suspending means for the pendulum fan support.

For the purpose of simplicity, inexpensiveness and long-life, attention-less operation, all parts of the connections between the fan suspension and the fan, as well as the journals for the fan suspension, are designed to reduce friction to the minimum, without absolutely requiring lubrication, although means for supplying lubrication may be provided.

The foregoing description more or less defines the principle of my invention, which resides in operati'vely suspending a blower or fan from a pendulum-like member, which latter has the tendency to normally remain or revert to a certain median position, and which, when once brought out of that position, will continue to swing from one extreme to the other extreme position, by the reaction of the operating blower.

The tendency of the (blower) fan to remain in this median position (as shown in full line in Figure 3) is brought about, first, by the gyroscopic action of the fan, and, secondly, by the action of the fan suspension, which in itself has a tend ency to assume a median position.

Furthermore, it will be clear that through the preferably resilient contact means, fixedly provided with the fan and adapted to alternately touch parts of its pendulum suspension, the fan or blower will be induced to alternately change its position and thereby operate the pendulum in the aforedescribed manner.

Attention is called to Figure 5, in which the connection between the fan and the pendulum involves a resilient torsion and tension element 6|. In this construction, element 6| will more positively help the tendency of the fan to remain in its median position, while the fan is either stationary or in operation, as compared with the connection between the fan and the suspension shown in the other figures. Assuming now that the fan operates. The moment arm 49 swings out of its median position, element 6! will be gradually twisted and put under torsion, which torsion, when the arm reaches one of its extreme outward positions, will be sufficient to overcome the gyroscopic action of the fan, and eventually cause the latter to turn to a position such as shown in Figure 3 at I.

In connection with the operation of my device, it is to be noted that the resilient whiskers or contact members, illustrated either singly or in pairs, as well as torsional connections, are not actually required. This device will operate without either the torsion spring 6!, or whiskers 2!, 58, or 69, shown, respectively, in Figures 3, 5, and 9. The mere fact that the fan is suspended by a link or links from the arm of the fan suspension is in itself sufiicient to facilitate the correct operation of the device. When such simple suspension is employed, the functions will be as follows: in one assumed position, as, for instance, the median position shown in Figure 3, will prevail until the arm of the fan suspension reaches an extreme outward position. As the fan and the arm together leave the median position, and the movement of the arm is checked at one of its outermost positions, the momentum of the fan continues to move the latter. Since the fan can not travel further, it is caused to rotate, due to its force of inertia, about its vertical axis, and it will turn to a position similar to that shown at I in Figure 3, at which the reaction of the fan against the air will tend to swing the arm back towards its median position. The same procedure is repeated when position II is reached.

Although in the drawing the bearings for the pendulum are shown on an incline, the pendulum may be readily arranged vertically, or substantially vertically, when suspended by a wire, band or'spring, functioning as a torsional suspension, which will have the tendency to a1- ways revert to its original position after being brought out of that position.

Either resilient strip 32 of Fig. 4, or resilient elements 5| and 16 of Figs. 5 and 9, respective- The tendency of the fan to remain 1y, may serve for torsionally suspending the respective penduli' which, although shown slightly inclined, may be practically vertically mounted. Since such construction is obvious, particularly when observing Fig. 5, a specific illustration of this modified form is omitted due to lack of space on the drawing.

The diiierent constructions illustrated serve primarily for explaining the basic principle of my invention and are therefore not intended for the purpose of limiting my invention in any other way. Inasmuch as during the course of production structural changes may be required for improving the efiiciency of the device, or for simplifying its assembly, and for reducing its cost, it is evident that variations and improvements will become necessary, and I therefore wish it to be expressly understood that I shall have the right to-such changes and improvements, without departing from the broad scope of my invention, as set forth in my annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In an oscillating air circulating device, a powered fan, a pendulum mounted fan support terminating in an outward, substantially horizontal arm from which the fan depends, suspension means for the fan, connecting the latter with said arm, and means associated with said suspension means in cooperation with said fan support for alternately changing the position of said fan relative to said fan support.

2. In an oscillating air circulating device, a powered fan, a pendulum support for the latter, and terminating in a free, substantially horizontal arm, connecting means between said arm and said fan for facilitating turning of said fan relative to said support, and means associated with said fan and in cooperation with said support for alternately changing the position of said fan relative to said support.

3. An oscillating air circulating device, comprising a powered fan, a pendulum suspension for the latter terminating in a free, substantially horizontal arm, combination connecting means between said fan and said arm for facilitating both the tilting of said fan in a vertical plane and the turning of the fan in a substantially horizontal plane, and resilient means associated with said fan, and in cooperation with said suspension, for alternately changing the direction of turning of the fan in a horizontal plane.

4:. An oscillating air circulating device, comprising in combination, a base or supporting member, fan suspension means, terminating in a free, substantially horizontal arm, mounted with said member in pendulum fashion so that the arms normal or stationary position is at right angles to said member, means provided with said member and with said fan suspension means for facilitating a pivotal movement of the latter, a powered fan suspended from the free arm of said suspension means, connections between the latter and said fan so constructed and arranged as to facilitate the movement of the fan in both a vertical and a horizontal plane, and means associated with said fan, and adapted to alternately cooperate with said suspension means, for alternately changing the direction of movement of the fan in a horizontal plane.

5. In an oscillating air circulating device, a supporting member, a movably mounted fan suspension member associated with the former, mountings for said suspension member for operatively journaling the latter at an incline relative to the horizontal, a. free, substantially horizontal arm forming a part of said suspension member, a fan depending from said arm, a connection between said fan and said arm constructed and arranged for facilitating the bodily movement of the fan both in a horizontal and a vertical plane, and contact means associated with said fan and cooperating with said arm for alternately reversing the position of the fan relative to said suspension member, as the latter is caused to swing from one side to the other by the operation of the fan.

6. In an oscillating air circulating device, as set forth in claim 5, and wherein said supporting member is provided with means for limiting the swinging movement of said suspension member.

'7. An oscillating fan structure, comprising in combination, a supporting member having means for suspending and supporting it, a fan suspension member operatively associated with, and inclined relative to said supporting member, lower and upper bearing means for the inclined portion of said fan suspension member, a substantially horizontal free arm forming the upper part of said suspension member, a powered fan depending from the end of said arm, a frictionreducing connection between said arm and said fan, constructed and arranged to facilitate the swinging of the fan in both vertical and horizontal planes, contact means extending from said fan and in cooperation. with said suspension member for causing the alternate reversal of position of said fan in a horizontal plane, and means for limiting the movement of said suspension member relative to said supporting memher.

8. In an oscillating fan structure, as set forth in claim '7, and wherein said supporting member is provided with means for suspending therefrom said fan suspension member.

9. In an oscillating fan structure, a supporting member provided with friction-reducing aligned bearing means distanced from one another and disposed at an incline to the horizontal, a pendulum member lodged in said bearings and having a free, substantially horizontal arm, a fan depending from said arm, friction-reducing connections between said arm and said fan constructed and arranged for facilitating the movement of said fan both in a vertical and in a horizontal plane, contact means fixedly associated with said fan and adapted to cooperate with said pendulum member for alternately changing the position of the fan after the completion of each swinging movement of said pendulum member.

10. In an oscillating fan structure according to claim 9, and wherein said pendulum member comprises an integral construction, of which the arm terminates at its free end in a loop for supporting said connections between said arm and said fan, and wherein said contact meansv consists of a pair of resilient members in a substantially V-shaped arrangement and of sufficient length so as to alternately touch the body of said pendulum member.

11. In an oscillating fan structure according to claim 9, and wherein said pendulum member comprises an integral body, of which the arm is substantially channel-shaped and terminates in a hollow enlargement, and wherein said contact means consists of a single extension adapted to alternately contact with the sides of said channel-shaped arm.

12. In an oscillating fan structure according to claim 9, and wherein said pendulum member comprises an integral body, at the arm of which is provided a resilient member extending in alignment with said arm towards its free end, and wherein said contact means comprise two radially arranged members designed to alternately contact with said resilient member.

13. In an oscillating fan structure according to claim 9, and wherein are provided means for floatingly suspending said pendulum in its bearings, said means comprising a resilient element removably secured to said supporting and said pendulum members.

14. In an oscillating fan structure according to claim 9, and wherein a resilient element connecting said supporting member with said pendulum member maintains said latter member in floating suspension in its bearings, said supporting and pendulum member being provided with means for maintaining said pendulum member operative in the event of damage to said element.

15. In an oscillating fan structure, a supporting member having friction-reducing aligned bearings distanced from one another, a pendulum member lodged in said bearings and terminating in a free, substantially horizontal arm, torsion means suspending said pendulum member from said supporting member, a power fan depending from the end of said free arm, and friction-reducing connections between said fan and said arm for facilitating the movement of the fan in both vertical and horizontal planes.

SHERRILL S. RATHBUN. 

